Child Benefit recipients could see double payment later in year

Thousands of people received a double Child Benefit payment as part of Budget 2024 after the government introduced the measure, now they have been advised to bring it back

By: irishmirror.ie

Jul 28 2024
23
3576 Views

Child Benefit recipients could

Thousands of parents all around the country could be in line to receive a double Child Benefit payment in the upcoming months.

In Budget 2024, ministers announced a double Child Benefit payment paid out to eligible households in Ireland in the first week of December, meaning that €280 was paid in respect of over more than 1.2 million children.

Now, the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development has recommended the double payment, alongside the social welfare Christmas Bonus, return in Budget 2025.

The committee has already published their pre-budget submission to Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys ahead of the budget announcement in October.

They wrote: "The Committee has consistently received evidence of the positive impact, particularly for poorer families, of lump sum payments and believe that the Christmas Bonus and the double payment of child benefit in September should be retained."

Child Benefit is a payment of €140 a month for each child handed out per month. The ‘universal’ benefit is paid to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 19 years.

Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys (Image: Collins)

The committee also recommended a half-rate Fuel Allowance payment, which would see €462, half of the current rate of €924, paid to those with incomes €100 above the existing threshold.

The payment is generally given out at the end of September to April each year for 28 weeks as part of weekly social welfare payments.

In their submission, they wrote: "The Committee recommends that a new half rate Fuel Allowance for those with an income of €100 above the existing thresholds should be introduced to address the spiralling cost of fuel."

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